Discover Kuwohi: A Window to the Wonders of the Great Smoky Mountains
Anyone can tell you that Kuwohi (formerly known as Clingmans Dome) is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the highest point in Tennessee, and the third-highest in North Carolina. Our intrepid team uncovered additional insights, legends, and local expertise to make the most of the trip.
The mountain stands 6,643 feet tall in the center of the most visited national park in America. More than 13.3 million people come through here each year, many seeking the 360° views from Kuwohi. Beyond the basics, we’ll show you secret spots and legendary stories that redefine this experience.
History of Kuwohi
The Cherokee inhabited the southern Appalachian Mountains for centuries before European colonization. Stories handed down through generations might change the way you experience the Smokies.
Ancient Cherokee Legends
First, it’s important to know that bears are sacred animals to the Cherokee, believed to be descendants of ancient Cherokee members who chose to live like animals while walking like humans.
Second, you should know that the mountain was originally called Kuwahi (“ku-whoa-hee”), which translates to Mulberry Place. Even today, mulberry trees and berry-filled paths wrap around the slopes.
Tying those two together – White Bear was the Cherokee chief, and he lived at Mulberry Place. Other bears lived on neighboring peaks. The high points provided a place for bears to meet, dance, and perform rituals. Cherokee members sought guidance from the leaders on these high grounds.
Settlers Impact on the Smokies
When European settlers arrived, they referred to the mountain as Smoky Dome until 1959, when the name Clingmans Dome was attached after Thomas L. Clingman, a politician turned Confederate leader in the Civil War. While Clingman was the first to measure the mountain, his unwavering support of slavery doesn’t allow history to paint him in a good light.
The National Park Takeover
Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established in 1934 and dedicated in 1940. The observation pathway and tower were added in 1959. The Clingmans Dome name stuck until 2022 when an effort to rename it was presented.
Future of Kuwohi
The highest spot in the Smokies was then and now a sacred place. In early 2024, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians fully supported the renaming effort. Technically, it would be restored to the name Kuwahi, similar to the way Mount McKinley in Alaska was renamed Denali.
The renaming of Clingmans Dome to Kuwohi aligns with a broader recent pattern of renaming monuments and landmarks associated with figures linked to the Confederacy and support for slavery.
What is Kuwohi?
Kuwohi is a type of mountain known as a “dome” or “dome-shaped peak.” It is characterized by its rounded, protruding summit instead of a pointed peak. This distinctive shape is a result of geological processes such as uplift, erosion, and exfoliation.
Since the Smokies are mostly sedimentary rocks, erosion continues at a rate of two inches every 1,000 years. Kuwohi is primarily composed of more resistant granitic rock along the mountain crest
Where is Kuwohi?
Kuwohi is at the heart of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with half in Tennessee and half in North Carolina. It’s easily accessible by car half of the year via Newfound Gap Road to Clingmans Dome Road.
Here are some distances to help plan your drive:
- From Gatlinburg: 23 Miles
- From Cherokee: 26 Miles
- From Cades Cove: 50 Miles
- From Asheville: 77 Miles
- From Knoxville: 66 Miles
You’ll take Newfound Gap Road to Kuwohi Road for seven miles to reach the parking area. Allow yourself extra time as several lookouts line the road.
Parking Permit at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
To enjoy the observation tower, you’ll need a parking permit. These are required for any stop in any parking area that lasts more than 15 minutes. If you purchase the permit online, be sure to print it out and bring it with you to display inside the vehicle.
Entrance to the park and access to Kuwohi is free, so the parking permit is the only cost you’ll pay.
When is Kuwohi Open?
To be clear, the Kuwohi observation tower and the mountain itself don’t close. Kuwohi Road closes from December 1 through March 31 of each year to vehicle traffic. It might close earlier depending on winter weather, but it won’t open early for a mild winter. The gates open on April 1 annually.
Those who are fit enough to cross-country ski or walk the wintry road can park at the Newfound Gap parking area right where it meets Kuwohi Road. The trail and tower of Kuwohi never close, but they also don’t get maintained in the winter.
When the road is open, you can travel it 24/7. It’s one of the most epic stargazing spots in the park, and you can’t beat the sunrise or sunset there.
Hiking the Kuwohi Trail
Once you arrive at the parking area, you still have about half a mile of hiking to go. The good news is that the pathway is paved and eight feet wide, allowing room for plenty of people on an even surface.
The other news is that the trail has an incline of up to 12% and increases 330 feet in less than a mile. A 400-foot circular walkway rises up 50 feet from the mountain top.
On a clear day, the view spans 100 miles in all directions. Unfortunately, clear days are pretty rare. The view can range from 20 miles to cloud-covered on an average day. You can check the webcam before you make the drive to see the view from the top.
Pets and bicycles are not allowed on the Kuwohi Trail, and wheelchairs are strongly discouraged because of the steep grade.
FUN FACT: As you look over the view from Kuwohi, take note of the mountain ridgeline. In 1932, a Skyway road was planned from Mount Sterling to Deals Gap. The National Park Service supported it, but wilderness enthusiasts won that battle to protect the unlogged areas east of Newfound Gap Road.
Hiking to Kuwohi in the Winter
As noted above, you can walk the road to get to Kuwohi in the winter, but another option is to tackle the Appalachian Trail, which connects to the same parking lot on Newfound Gap Road.
The trail parallels Kuwohi Road much of the way but offers that authentic AT experience and a bit of cover from the elements. The roundtrip hike spans 15 miles or so. Bring microspikes and trekking poles in the winter.
The difference between the two hikes comes down to challenges and views. On the AT, you’ll get a rise and fall of a robust trail system but no views of the landscape until Kuwohi. Taking Kuwohi Road, you’ll get views along the way, but not as challenging of a hike. However, the road is the only option for cross-country skiing.
Other Trails from the Kuwohi Area
The parking lot at Kuwohi gets crowded for the short hike to the tower and for the abundant trails in the area
Cherokee people also believe that the magical healing lake Atagâ’hï is somewhere between the high peak and the Oconaluftee River.
Forney Ridge Trail
Andrews Bald is the highest grassy bald in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, standing 5,900 feet tall. It offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
The bald is accessible via a moderately difficult hike 1.8 miles from the Kuwohi parking area trailhead. The trail drops 1,200 feet in that distance; be prepared for that elevation rise coming back up. Beyond that, the trail goes about another 3.4 miles into the wilderness and backcountry campsites.
Nolan Divide Trail
About 1.5 miles from the parking lot, the Nolan Divide Trailhead starts along the ridgeline and descends to Deep Creek Campground. You’ll want to go as far as Lonesome Pine Overlook for another sensational scenic view, which would make it a 16-mile out-and-back hike.
Spruce Fir Nature Trail
About 2.6 miles into the Kuwohi Road drive, you’ll come to a pullout that is the trailhead for the Spruce Fir Nature Trail. At just a half mile long, you’ll walk through a coniferous rainforest with a wooden walkway.
Kuwohi Weather
At the top of Kuwohi, temperatures will be a good 20 degrees cooler than the lower elevations. On any given day, there’s a chance it will be wetter, too. It’s that same cool, wet weather that provides the right ingredients for the coniferous rainforest.
It’s not enough to know the forecast for Gatlinburg or Bryson City. You need the microclimate forecast for Kuwohi. Expect the winds to be higher at the top, meaning even colder or more safety risks. Even on the hottest day in the lower elevations, Kuwohi rarely gets above 70°F.
- The snowiest months on Kuwohi are March (26”), February (20”), and January (18”).
- The wettest months are July (8.3”), June (6.9”) and August (6.8”).
Then, you need to know the air quality on a given day. That will impact how far you can see and how well you handle the higher elevation hike.
Fall Foliage & Wildflowers at Kuwohi
October is the busiest month at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with a record-breaking 1.7 million in 2023. One of the biggest draws is the fall foliage. The Kuwohi area peaks in early to mid-October, but the lower elevations follow a week or two later.
For wildflowers, stick to the lower elevation through spring but go to the highest elevations from July through September to get the best blooms. The flaming azalea bloom on Andrews Bald in late June is yet another reason to visit Kuwohi and take the additional trail.
Secret Spots Near Kuwohi
Several hidden gems can be found around Kuwohi.
First, the “weeping walls” along the road are best seen in winter when icicles dangle from the rock face. If there’s one interesting part about this area being wet enough to host a rainforest, it’s that the wall can cry throughout the year, dripping excess moisture.
Second, the “secret tunnel under Clingmans Dome” isn’t really under the dome. It’s a tunnel just a short distance from the turnoff at Newfound Gap Road. You need to park at the first pullout and walk a short distance to a culvert on the north side.
The tunnel is underneath. This was once a mule trail tunnel, according to the Library of Congress. A 1964 map shows the path that once existed and then follow the south side of Kuwohi Road.
Finally, 1.3 miles up Kuwohi Road from the Gap, stop at the Road Prong Trailhead. If original plans had stuck, this would have been the premier ski destination in the Smokies at Indian Gap.
The trail takes you to an area that was the initial trail and wagon road (hence the need for mule tunnels) dating back to the Cherokee, but then it became the Indian Gap ski area in the early 1940s. Seven ski runs were to drop from either side of Kuwohi Road. As with many plans for Indian Gap Road, they didn’t come through. Now, the area is a forest with pathways where you can still see wagon grooves.
Kuwohi Conclusion
Since Newfound Gap Road is the only way to get to Kuwohi Road, check those road conditions before you head out. You can call (865) 436-1200 or check @smokiesroadnps on X (formerly Twitter).
Whether you’re a peak bagger, a leaf peeper, or just a park lover, Kuwohi road, trail, and observation tower are a great way to celebrate the majesty of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
